WINSTED >> Winsted Waterworks won the 2013 Atlantic States Rural Water and Wastewater Association’s Water Operations Award at ASRWWA’s once a year forum, that was held on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at New Life Church in Wallingford.

“We are pretty proud of what we do,” said Jeff Rines, Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator, in a press release. ‘We are guys that were born and raised here.”

Rines said that Winsted has a good relationship with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, partially due to the education that Winsted Waterworks employees have gone though.

All employees of Winsted Waterworks are certified in water treatment and dispensation.

Obtaining a small staff and dealing with budget regulations, Winsted Waterworks maintains training for every employee no matter what level they’re working in– which was noted by the company “an essential element of any successful operation” and they “continue their commitment of resources for that purpose, “ according to the press release.

Steven Levy, ASRWWA’s Executive Director mentioned in the press release that Winsted Waterworks and their employees made a pledge to better and progress their water system, “to meet the ever increasing requirements of providing safe drinking water to their customers” and that the company is doing just that.

Winsted Waterworks infrastructure replacement program, stable rates and efficient use of personnel were the aspects that were studied by the ASRWWA in order to be determined the company the winners of the award.

Winsted Waterworks serves 2,400 customers with water coming from Crystal Lake and Rugg Brook. Water is treated at the Crystal Lake Water Treatment Plant, which was built in 1998.